Family violence a mental health issue: MP

A new Liberal MP says perpetrating domestic violence needs to be dealt with as a mental health problem in order to be overcome.

Fiona Martin, the coalition's fresh face for the NSW seat of Reid, has pledged to use her experience as a psychologist to help shape policies to improve the mental health of Australians.

She says all forms of violence against women and children are unacceptable, and it must be acknowledged they're most vulnerable to family violence.

"While intervention and recovery services for victims are essential, if we want to substantially reduce domestic and family violence, we must see domestic and family violence as a mental health problem," she told the lower house on Thursday.

The first female member for Reid founded a Sydney-based psychology centre and has spent much of her career working with vulnerable children.

"I have the opportunity to bring this experience from the frontline to contribute to policy, to help close the evidence-policy gap," she said.

She praised the Morrison government for investing in mental health services, but said scientific evidence needed to play a greater role in policy.